In a commendable achievement, over 4 million more children were vaccinated in 2022 than the previous year, according to a joint press release by the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). This marked significant progress in global immunization efforts, a coordinated response to combat vaccine-preventable diseases.
Positive Trends in Immunization Coverage
The DTP3 vaccine, used as a global marker for immunization coverage, protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, or whooping cough. Significant progress was made in WHO South-East Asia Region, where the number of zero-dose children reduced to 2.3 million in 2022 from 4.6 million in 2021. India saw an all-time coverage rate for DPT3 of 93% in 2022, besting its previous record of 91% in 2019.
Recovery from Pandemic-related Disruptions
Among the 73 countries hit by significant declines in immunization coverage due to the pandemic, 15 have restored to pre-pandemic levels, while 24 others are on the path to recovery.
HPV Vaccination Rates
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates reached their pre-pandemic levels, but remain below the targeted 90%.
Lingering Disparities and Ongoing Challenges
Despite some countries making substantial recoveries, smaller and poorer nations still face challenges in restoring immunization services. Also, measles vaccination rates have not recovered as effectively as other vaccines, causing a threat of increased measles infections for an additional 35.2 million children globally.
Global Initiatives Related to Immunization
To tackle the challenges and improve vaccination rates, there are several global initiatives in place. The Immunization Agenda 2030 aims to reduce the number of children receiving no vaccines by 50% and increase vaccine introduction in low- and middle-income countries by 2023. Each year, the World Immunization Week is celebrated in the last week of April to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines.
Status of Immunization in India
In India, over 30 million pregnant women and 27 million children are vaccinated annually through the Universal Immunization Programme. However, according to UNICEF, only 65% of children in India receive full immunization during the first year of their life.
Major Immunization Programmes in India
The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) offers free immunization against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. Substantial strides have been made in this programme, with the eradication of polio in 2014 and the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015 being two significant milestones.
Mission Indradhanush (MI), launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, aims to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under UIP. It’s currently being implemented in several phases.
Other Supporting Measures
A few other initiatives supporting the immunization programmes in India include the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) rollout and the National Cold Chain Management Information System (NCCMIS).
As seen in a Previous Year Question (PYQ) from the UPSC Civil Services Examination, Mission Indradhanush concerns the immunization of children and pregnant women. This demonstrates the importance of understanding the various immunization initiatives for comprehensive exam preparation.
